CuCrZr is a commonly used copper alloy for high temperature applications such as propulsion systems due to the high thermal conductivity compared to other commonly used nickel-based super alloys. Additive Manufacturing offers new geometrical freedoms in design to increase functionalization by e.g. including near contour cooling channels or to reduce necessary joining of different parts by increasing complexity and reducing the number of single parts.

The AM process Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) of copper and its alloys has been challenging due to the low absorptivity of pure copper in the infrared wavelength. This challenge has been overcome by either using higher infrared laser power up to 1 kW or by using a green laser source with higher absorptivity in that wavelength.

In this contribution, the microstructure and mechanical properties of CuCrZr processed by IR high power laser and a green laser system is investigated in the as-built condition as well as after solution annealing and aging by means of Light Microscopy (LM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and tensile testing. The analysis focuses on anisotropy and precipitation mechanisms and takes into account the productivity of both processes and their effect on porosity and grain size.